Healthy Skepticism Library item: 2024
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: Journal Article
Mintzes B.
For and against: Direct to consumer advertising is medicalising normal human experience: For.
BMJ 2002 Apr 13; 324:(7342):908-9
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/324/7342/908
Abstract:
Medicalisation is a process by which nonmedical problems become inappropriately medicalised. DTCA encourages healthy people to view themselves as unhealthy. DTCA primarily focuses on newer, more expensive drugs, often lifestyle drugs. Even for more serious diseases, the net is often cast too wide. Promotion influences doctors’ prescribing and patients’ requests. Both critics and supporters of DTCA agree that it is likely to increase drug treatment in healthy populations. Newer drugs are not necessarily better. DTCA does not give consumers comparative information. DTCA also promotes the concept of a pill for every ill.
Keywords:
Advertising*
Disease/classification*
Drug Industry*
Humans
Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
*analysis
United States
New Zealand
Netherlands
Canada
DTCA
direct-to-consumer advertising
medicalisation
newer drugs
pharmaceutical industry
Merck
INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS
INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS
PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING
